Decorative element with base element and pins arranged thereon with decorative or ornamental stones, in particular pearls respectively arranged thereon

ABSTRACT

A decorative element with a base element configured as a support element with a number of in particular wire-shaped or thread-shaped pins arranged thereon with jewellery stones or similar decorative stones respectively arranged thereon, in particular pearls, wherein the support element for the pin receiver is configured through a multi-component, preferably two-component ball-shaped element, which is provided with bore holes arranged over the circumference of the sphere for receiving the pins, wherein one respective pin or thread is inserted through a bore hole and fixated relative to the ball-shaped element.

The invention relates to a decorative element according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Decorative elements are used today in many manners, thus in particular commercially and also privately for various decorative purposes. Thus, it is known in particular for Christmas stars and similar to attach wire pins through solder joints on a star shaped base element, wherein pearls or similar decorative stones are lined up on the wire pins. This yields an individually configurable decorative element which can be used in many ways for various applications.

It is the object of the invention to provide a decorative element which facilitates variability and simultaneously also facilitates stable anchoring of the pins or threads supporting the pearls. Furthermore, the decorative element shall also provide a good optically pleasing design or appearance.

This object is achieved according to the invention through the measures included in patent claim 1, wherein advantageous improvements of the invention are characterized by the features in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the base element receiving the pins is formed from a ball-shaped element which is configured in plural components, preferably configured in two components, in particular configured as pure ball element which is made from two spherical shells and preferably configured as a hollow element. Through the multi-component configuration of the element, in particular the two-shell configuration, a disengageable connection is feasible in a simple manner. This is useful in particular for a ball-shaped element which is formed from two spherical shells. These can be connected in a simple manner through a plug-in connection or a bayonet closure. Also a threaded connection is advantageous, wherein the threaded connection is provided in sections over the entire circumference of the spherical shells. The multi-component arrangement and the disengageable configuration also increase variability because the ball can be opened any time and the pins can be replaced or rearranged and attached, thus with the same length or with a different length. Thus, the pins or threads are run from the outside or the inside through bore holes that are distributed over the circumference of the ball shells and are preferably attached on the inside of the sphere through a pin button, a fold-over or a knot or a T-shaped plug-in connection. Subsequently, the pearls can be lined up in any manner from the outside. At the free pin- or thread-end, the pearls are fixated through a knot, a fold, a ring or a thickening which is provided e.g. through upsetting. Optionally, in particular for a knotting of the threads or a fold-over of the pins for attachment at the inside of the sphere, the pearls can also be previously lined up on the pins or threads, thereafter the pins or threads are run from the outside through the bore hole and are then attached on the inside. In case the pin already has an attachment button at one end, running the pin through is performed from the inside of the sphere to the outside and subsequently the pearls or similar ornamental stones are threaded up from the outside.

In case of flexible threads made from plastic material the threads or plastic pins are stiffened by the threaded-on pearls which are closely adjacent to one another, so that the threads extend more or less in a straight line from the spherical shell in outward direction.

A plurality of bore holes is provided distributed over the shell, wherein preferably each bore hole receives a pin, so that a large number of pins can be arranged distributed over the sphere. When the pearls are then lined up on the pins or threads this yields a very decorative appearance. It is appreciated that pearls with different sizes and colors can be threaded onto the pins or threads in any manner.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the two spherical shells have different sizes, wherein it is not excluded that both spherical shells are also as identically sized halves. In that both spherical shells are divided into halves with unequal sizes this yields a respective displacement of the connection seam or joint of the connection from the central plane of the sphere, wherein in a simple manner, also a row of bore holes and thus respective pins or threads for lining up the pearls in the central plane of the sphere, this means centered exactly about the center axis, can be provided. The other rows of bore holes are then arranged in parallel to the central plane defined by the center row of bore holes, in particular arranged in an identical manner so that an even structure of the pins or threads and of the pearls arranged thereon is provided about the sphere. In the context of a uniform structure of this type, the bore holes are arranged for each series of bore holes with uniform circumferential distance. The bore holes of adjacent rows of bore holes can then be aligned offset from these bore holes or identical with these bore holes. Thus, it is helpful when adjacent rows of bore holes are arranged concentric with one another, which however is not mandatory.

Preferably, the size of the sphere is in a diameter range of 2 to 10 cm, in particular 2.5 to 8 cm. Thus, bore holes with a number between 10 and 100, preferably 20 to 72, particularly preferably 34 to 60, can be provided per sphere.

The pins are advantageously provided in the form of wires, in particular metal wires, in particular steel wires. The pins, however, can also be made from plastic material. Instead of stiff pins, also textile or plastic threads can be used, in particular nylon threads. Since the threads or pins are attached at the spherical shell, a self-acting stiffening of the threads is provided when the pearls are tightly spaced, so that the threads remain raised. Thus, it is advantageous overall when the pins or threads are arranged perpendicular to a plane contacting the respective bore hole in a tangential manner.

The spherical shells themselves can be made from metal, in particular brass, or from plastic material. Furthermore, spherical shells can be colored or coated, in particular with gold-, silver- or copper-colored layer. The pins can either extend with identical length from the spherical shell in outward direction or with different lengths, wherein the pin size is in a range of 1 to 7 cm, preferably 1 to 5 cm, particularly preferably between 1.5 to 3.5 cm. The same applies for the thread length respectively computed extending from the outer spherical surface.

The attachment of the pins is provided through a pinhead in the interior of the spherical shell, whose dimensions are larger than the dimensions of the bore hole. Alternatively, the pin can also be bent or upset in order to attach the pin at the spherical shell. In case of threads made from textile material or plastic material, the attachment is provided through knots or in that the threads have a T-shaped head. The thread can then be threaded in through the T-piece. The T-head then fixates the thread in outward direction so that pearls are applied from the outside and the pearls can then be fixated through a knot connection.

Subsequently embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective schematic view of a sphere formed from two spherical shells;

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic partial view for illustrating a pin;

FIG. 3 illustrates an analogous alternative view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a thread with a T-shaped head piece for attachment.

FIG. 1 illustrates a spherical element 1 configured as a sphere which is formed from two shells 3 and 5. Thus, the shell 3 is configured as a ball-shaped scraper is configured slightly smaller than the spherical shell 5 also configured as a ball-shaped scraper. The two shells 3 and 5 can either be connected with one another through an insertable connection or a threaded connection. For illustration purposes, FIG. 1 illustrates a plug-in socket 7 which is sized smaller relative to the rest of the spherical shell 3, wherein the spherical shell 3 is insertable into the spherical shell 5 through the plug-in socket. Therefore, the plug-in connection is a fitted connection which is fixated, however, also disengageable under tension. Alternatively, and this is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, the connection of both shells 3 and 5 can be provided through a threaded connection. Thus, one or plural threads can be provided over the entire circumference of the socket 7 which is schematically indicated by the reference numeral 9. Respective thread turns or a respective thread is then also provided in the edge portion of the spherical shell 5 as indicated at 11. Instead of a circumferential thread turn, thread turns can also be provided in sections as apparent from FIG. 1 for both spherical shells 3 and 5. Alternatively the interconnection of both spherical shells can also be provided through one or plural bayonet closures which are not illustrated.

It is apparent that each spherical shell is provided with a plurality of bore holes 13 which extend through the spherical shell. Thus, it is helpful that a row of bore holes is provided in the central plane of the sphere which is designated as 15. The row of bore holes is also illustrated in dashed lines which only serve illustration purposes. In the illustrated embodiment, additional rows of bore holes are provided which are configured at a distance from the row of bore holes 15 that are configured centered in the center plane and which also include a number of bore holes 13 that are preferably arranged at uniform distances from another. However, it is not mandatory that the bore holes are arranged at uniform distances from one another; however an even structure is generated for an arrangement with even distances. Optionally, the bore holes of adjacent rows of bore holes can also be arranged offset from one another.

Through these bore holes 13, as described best with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a pin 17 is inserted. The pin 17 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a thickened head 19 at its inner end, wherein the thickened head has at least one dimension which is greater than the diameter of the associated bore hole 13. Thus, the pin 17 is inserted from the inside to the outside through the bore hole 13 until the pinhead 19 contacts the inner surface of the spherical shell. Then, pearls 21 are lined up from the outside which can have identical sizes or completely different sizes and can have identical or different shapes. After the lineup of the pearls 21, a fixation is provided at the protruding free-end of the pin 17 through forming an eyelet, wherein the eyelet 23 is apparent from FIG. 2 and can also be used as a hanger for another row of pearls 25. For better illustration, the pearls 21 are represented as transparent pearls so that the pin 17 is visible. This also applies for FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

In the embodiment, according to FIG. 3, mounting the pin is provided at the interior of the spherical shell through folding the pin over, wherein the fold-over is designated as 25. Fixating the lined up pearls 21 is in turn provided through a fold-over 25 at the free end of the pin. The pin is configured as a metal wire, in particular as a steel pin.

FIG. 4 alternatively illustrates a plastic material thread made from nylon which is configured with a T-piece 27 for attachment at its lower end for insertion into a bore hole and attachment of the thread at the spherical shell. Subsequently, the pearls not illustrated in FIG. 4, are lined up and a fixation of the non-illustrated pearls is provided at the thread 29 through a knot 31.

The variability of the decorative element is rather large since the pins do not have to be provided in each bore hole, the pins or threads can be configured with different lengths and also a different number of pearls with different size and shape can be provided which is at the discretion of the user of the decorative element. It is helpful that the decorative element is configured in a very simple manner, can be opened and replaced with new pins or threads any time so that the design can be changed at will. The decorative element is suited in particular for arts and crafts and is therefore highly suitable in particular for school applications. The decorative element in do it yourself construction also appeals to all age groups and is also suitable for arts and crafts applications in assisted living facilities. It is advantageous that the same spherical element can be used for different decorative arrangements. This is caused by high variability, the simple assembly of the pins and threads and the simple lineup of the pearls and the simple opening and closing of the spherical element. A spherical element in the context of this application means that the element does not have to be a strictly geometrical sphere, though the sphere actually has exactly spherical shape in a preferred embodiment. 

1. A decorative element with a base element (1) configured as a support element with a number of in particular wire-shaped or thread-shaped pins (17, 29) arranged thereon with jewelry stone or similar decorative stones respectively arranged thereon, in particular pearls (21), wherein the support element for the pin receiver is configured through a multi-component, preferably two-component ball-shaped element (1) which is provided with bore holes (13) arranged over the circumference of the sphere for receiving the pins, wherein one respective pin (17) or thread (29) is inserted through a bore hole (13) and fixated relative to the ball-shaped element(1).
 2. The decorative element, according to claim 1, wherein the ball-shaped element (1) is configured as a hollow element and preferably configured from two spherical shells (3, 5) which are connected with one another in a disengageable manner, preferably through a plug-in connection, threaded connection or bayonet connection.
 3. The decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the two spherical shells include halves with different sizes.
 4. The decorative element according to claim 2, wherein one of the two spherical shells (3, 5) includes a row of bore holes (15) along a center plane extending about the center axis of the sphere.
 5. The decorative element according to claim 1, wherein bore holes (13) are arranged at a distance from one another respectively along a circular row of bore holes (15) and plural rows of bore holes are arranged at a distance from one another, thus preferably in parallel planes and/or concentric relative to one another.
 6. The decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the spheres have a diameter of 2 to 10 cm, in particular 2.5 to 8 cm.
 7. The decorative element according to claim 1, wherein each sphere has 10 to 100 bore holes, preferably 20 to 72 bore holes, in particular 34 to 72 bore holes.
 8. The decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the pins (17) are made from metal wire, in particular steel or plastic materials.
 9. The decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the threads (29) are configured as textile or plastic threads, in particular as nylon threads.
 10. The decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the pins or threads (17, 29) are attached within the spherical shells (3, 5), preferably through folding (25), knotting (31), forming a head (19, 27) at the inner pin end, in particular through a T-plug head.
 11. The decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the spherical shells (3, 5) are made from metal, in particular brass or a plastic material.
 12. The decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the spherical shells are colored or coated.
 13. The decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the pins protrude outward beyond the shell by a length in a range of 1 to 7 cm, preferably 1 to 5 cm, particularly preferably 1.5 to 3.5 cm.
 14. The decorative element according to claim 1, wherein the bore holes and the pins received therein are arranged in a uniform structure, this means respectively distributed over the circumference of the sphere with identical distances there between. 